AN illegal money lender charged vulnerable customers high rates of interest then bullied and threatened them to get his money back, a court heard.

Hudson Obetoh tried to “squeeze” every bit of cash he could from those who came to him, who were given only a limited amount of documentation, Birmingham Crown Court was told.

Obetoh, 52, of Wakefield Close, Sutton Coldfield, has denied three charges of blackmail, three of obtaining property by deception as well as running a consumer credit business without a licence and acquiring criminal property.

Ben Mills, prosecuting, said Obetoh had a business called Cash Operators in Lozells Road, Aston.

He said customers often could not get credit elsewhere and turned to Obetoh, who charged rates of interest they could ill-afford – on average £25 for every £100 that was borrowed.

Mr Mills said the customers became caught in a “spiral of debt” and that Obetoh would take their passports and other documentation that was important to them as security, so they would have to come back to him.

Obetoh, he added, deceived some of his customers who had given him their passports by charging them £35 to get them back, which he claimed was a banking storage fee.

Three members of the same family, who had obtained loans, were subjected to Obetoh demanding his money back and shouting at their home, claimed Mr Mills.